PSL: Sharjeel's ton goes in vain Karachi lose to Islamabad

Dubai - Islamabad United won by five wickets

Sharjeel Khan scored a brilliant hundred for the Karachi Kings, but Islamabad United came up with a superb team effort to eclipse the attacking-hander’s knock and win their second match on the trot in the Pakistan Super League.

After Khan’s 59-ball 105 (nine fours and eight sixes) helped the Kings post a challenging total of 196 for three in 20 overs, not a single Islamabad United batsman scored a half-century.

But it didn’t matter as impressive knocks from English opener Alex Hales (46, 21 balls, eight fours, one six), Iftikhar Ahmed (49 not out, 37balls, two fours, three sixes), Hussain Talat (42, 31 balls, four fours) and Asif Ali (21 not out, 9 balls, one four, two sixes) ensured Islamabad United, the two-time winners of the competition, beat the defending champions by five wickets to move up to the second spot behind leaders Lahore Qalandars in the points table.

Despite losing two early wickets -- Phil Salt (0) and Shadab Khan (0) -- United fought hard and a fantastic 62-run partnership off just 22 balls for the third wicket between Hales and Faheem Ashraf (25, 15 balls, two fours and two sixes) set the tone for their victory on what was another beautiful wicket to bat at the National Stadium in Karachi.

Brief Scores

Islamabad United beat Karachi Kings by five wickets.

Karachi Kings 196 for three in 20 overs (Sharjeel Khan 105, Babar Azam 62, Daniel Christian 12 not out; Hasan Ali 1/36, Hussain Talat 1/25).

Islamabad United 197 for five in 19.1 overs (Alex Hales 46, Iftikhar Ahmed 49 not out, Faheem Ashraf 25, Hussain Talat 42, Asif Ali 21 not out; Mohammad Nabi 1/26, Waqas Maqsood 1/22, Imad Wasim 1/32, Mohammad Amir 1/44, Arshad Iqbal 1/30).

Next matches

Friday

Lahore Qalandars vs Multan Sultans

2pm

Peshawar Zalmi vs Quetta Gladiators

7pm

UAE Time